Toulon (AFP)
Thanks to a test from the third row Zach Mercer, one minute after the siren, Montpellier managed to hang the draw on the lawn of Toulon (24-24, Saturday during the 1st day of the Top 14.
In a meeting between two disappointed in the last exercise, the RCT however led the whole meeting without managing to escape the scoreboard.
But deprived of 21 players, they mostly relied on the boot of Anthony Belleau who scored all the points in the Var.
Montpellier sports manager Philippe Saint-André and his troops had come to seek a result in the Rade.
But in a packed Mayol stadium, they rarely found the right rhythm and too often played in their own half.
Too timid from the first seconds, they committed four faults in seven minutes offering the first minutes to the Azureans.
If Anthony Belleau missed his first attempt against the pole vault, he spent the next two and started the Toulon season in the best possible way.
But, like last season, the Rouge et Noir have relaxed defensively.
And on the second Hérault movement in their camp, they let winger Julien Tisseron navigate as he pleased to register the first try of the match (12th).
Punished, the teammates of Sergio Parisse, named captain for the occasion, returned to camp in the opposing half of the field.
But in quick succession, scrum-half Julien Blanc then opener Anthony Belleau negotiated difficult test situations.
Not precise enough in the opposing 22 meters, the RCT kept four points ahead at half-time.
The second half mostly looked like a scoring battle.
And in this little game, Belleau recalled that he was one of the best French against the posts.
Injured most of last season, the native of Monflanquin reassured everyone by scoring 24 points from the Var.
Toulonnais Gervais Cordin avoids a tackle by a Montpellier player during the draw conceded at the Mayol stadium, September 4, 2021 Christophe SIMON AFP
Toulon then headed for victory by keeping the MHR at 7 points.
But in the final minutes, the Montpellier people used the new 50-22 rule to perfection, to find a touch 5 meters from the Var goal.
The Toulonnais resisted several playing times before cracking in front of the English third line Zach Mercer who flattened against a post (80 + 1).
A cruel end for the men of Patrice Collazo who led almost all of the meeting.
With this draw, they therefore remain under pressure before a perilous trip to the Toulouse champion.
The MHR will try to return to victory on Saturday against Brive.
© 2021 AFP